Fitz: The modern day "Christian" shouldn't worry about how many people he's leading to God. He SHOULD BE worried about how many he's turning away.
I have to agree with that. Some of the Christians I've met since I converted would have definitely scared me off.
My last post regarding the truth .... Jesus preaching caused Him to be crucified ...why? because He spoke the truth! .....ask God for HIS truth...He will show you, if you really wanna know .. now....lets talk POLITICS!
6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other in my opinion. But yes, I think there are just as many people "recovering" from church, than "doing" church.
THe differnece is this, Parents have to take responsebility for their kids, you can have dinner with them every night and not take responsebility for them, or be gone a lot and take responsebility for them. Myself I believe in having dinner with my family, I change jobs last year so I could. That does not make be better or worse then anybody else. If you look at the kids who are failing, 90% time it's the parents. If you look at some of these charter schools who are turning kids around, how are they doing it? They are taking responsebility for those kids education. Because a parent is not doing so for their child. Bad parenting is not a christian thing, plenty of bad christian parents. Bad parenting is a selfish trait IMO. To be a good parent you have to give up one of your most cherish things, time
My mother worked six days a week, Mon. - Sat. from 6PM to about 2AM as a waitress and bartender. There was no way she could play the traditional parent role. But we got by really well. I had to stay home alone in the evening, do my homework, and behave myself. And I did. I was not allowed to watch TV and I didn't. I had orders to immediately call her at work if there were any problems. Once, when I was 12 I just called her just to say "Hi." I tried to tell her that everything was OK, but she came right home and she sat on my bed for over an hour while we talked. She went back to work afterwards, but it was obvious to me that mama was always there if I needed her. My first week in sixth grade I was really bored and causing, I guess, some disruption. Their solution was to move me up to ninth grade which I did NOT want. (I'm very small, the same size as a fifth grader now. You can imagine me then.) Mama was at the school the next day and made it clear that would not happen. She had my classes rearranged and got teachers to agree to give me extra work and supervise it so I would be challenged and not bored. They also had me tutoring some of the kids who weren't doing so well. It was great and the program worked all through middle school. Mama, of course, made sure I did all my work as I was supposed to do. We were a very non-traditional type family. Mama was only 15 when I was born, but she took her role as a mother VERY seriously. That, I think, is what it takes.
Not every life and situation is the same. I know some parents that aren't home much, but have great kids that have been taught well. I also know parents that are around their kids all the time, but teach them bad behaviors or don't discipline them. I don't think simply being home makes you a good parent. I also don't think not being able to spend as much time with your family (like having to work multiple jobs) makes you a bad parent. There are too many variables. Thats not to say I don't think spending time with your family isn't a good thing. I always make time for my family. I also believe good parents will be good parents no matter what the situation, and vise versa for bad parents. As somone once said, "you can't fix stupid".
Wow... you and I were very much a like as kids/teens. At 14 the family trips/vacations ended... for me anyways !!!!! My interests were not even close to my folks, brother or sisters. Also agree that each child is different and raise them accordingly. Tim
I've been reading this for the past couple of days, I spent more than a little time dealing with religion over the Christmas holiday than normal as my father in law died last Wednesday morning, he was a very religious man and loved his church as many of you love yours. And after listening to how you educated and very literate believers in the ways God wants us to live and love our fellow man, the more I understand the mind set of of our Arab enemies who for the most part are uneducated and illiterate. The similarities I find almost alarming.
Hey Tony, Merry Christmas to you and yours. I see you've improved on the deer slaying, Congrats. My time? To much of it in funeral homes for my taste, but some seem to thrive on that opportunity. I hope the new year brings nothing but happiness and big bucks your way.
Hey I'm not worm dung yet, so theres still a bit of hope. Of course you guys are starting me to question that.
I was told once to ask myself one question......... If you died today would you go to heaven? Kind of scary isnt it?
